Photographer Ian BLASSHOFER collaborated with food stylist Guido Gravelius to produce a free, ‘traditional Ruhr cuisine’-themed food series.
The witty title is a reference to Heinrich Heine: ‘A people so firm, so sure, so true. Void of bragging and pretence’.
Ian on his choice: ‘the title reflects what the grounded, no-frills Ruhr cuisine of the post-war period represents.
The seasonal ingredients come from a small fruit and vegetable garden just behind the pithead building, the eel comes from the neighbouring canal and so on.’
A little reminder – the quote is from Heinrich Heine: Germany. A Winter’s Tale – chapter 11.
Here is chapter 11 of Heinrich Heine’s poem book, which he composed in 1844 under censorship in Paris:
'Soon after Hagen, night quickly fell,
And I could feel in my intestines
A creeping cold. I didn’t feel warm
Till Unna, in one of the inns.
I found a pretty maiden there,
She served me punch in a friendly way;
Her curly hair was like yellow silk,
Her soft eyes shone like a moon-ray.
I heard the lisping Westphalian accent
Again, with a joy without measure.
The punch brought back the sweet memories,
Of my dear brothers in pleasure.
Those dear Wesphalians with whom,
In Göttingen, I so often drank,
Till, with our hearts so moved,
Under the tables, we sank!
I’ve always so much liked
Those dear Wesphalian friends,
A people so firm, so sure, so true,
Void of bragging and pretence.
How splendid, on the duelling ground,
They stand with lion hearts!
So true are their tierces,
So precise are their quartes.
They fence well, they drink well,
They are such friendly folks:
They reach you a hand and then weep,
They are sentimental oaks.
May Heaven guard you, worthy race,
May Heaven bless your seeds,
Preserve you from war and fame,
From heroes and heroic deeds.
May God send easy trials
To your worthy young men,
May he bring all your daughters
Safely to the alter- Amen!'